I am a hypochondriac. Every complaint from now on, I will attribute to my

[bertha katzenengel]

weight.

It's pathetic! I know that with the exception of Hepatitis C and arthritis (which are exacerbated by my obesity), probably every physical complaint I gripe about is due to my being over 100 lbs overweight. Right now my back is killing me - I have a little scoliosis, but if 100+ extra lbs weren't pulling on my spine? :eyes: Duh, Bertha.

I would like very much to set a goal of losing 10% of my weight. By when? Who knows. My 43rd birthday, 3 1/2 months hence? Meh.

No "you can do its" or "aw berthas," please. But commiseration and your own tales are welcome!

I ranted here because, well, because i have more family here than in any other DU group or board, and because it is the Lounge - topics are pretty well open within reason.

TYFL.

edit: for the curious:

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Hugs, Bertha.

I am sorry you are in pain.

How about starting a walking regimen? That seems to work for a lot of folks.

[bertha katzenengel]

2. well, shit

See. Now this is going to elicit several "yeah, rights." But get this: Been so obese for so long that my ankles, knees, and hips hurt too much when I walk.

But I do know what to do to exercise. Thank you for the nudge.

I am projecting an image of myself onto the DU collective: I imagine that you all see the mother from "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (and twice as pathetic). I have to tell you, although I'm nowhere near that bulk, that is exactly how I feel.

:hi: Midlo. Thank you very much.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Okay, how about this?

I have seen your picture. I don't think you would qualify as 'obese'. You photograph very nicely.

What about water aerobics? No stress on the limbs. I did it when I was trying to lose weight after my first. I didn't lose all the weight and then got pregnant again, but I have to tell you, it was very enjoyable. Being in the water is very soothing, and if I could go 8 months pregnant, you could certainly go.

I remember reading somewhere that for every hour you exercise in the water, it is like 3 hours on land, because of the water displacement.

Is there a club up there, or like a Y that might offer classes in water aerobics? Maybe worth a look see?

[bertha katzenengel]

20. definitely worth a look-see

and thanks for the suggestion :hug:

[murphymom]

24. Second the suggestion about water aerobics

I am substantially overweight and I've been taking a deep water aerobics class for the past few years 3 times a week. We all wear flotation belts in the pool so there's NO impact on the feet, knees, etc. It's an indoor pool, also, so this weather weenie can go year round. I get an overall workout and it's been great for improving my flexibility and feeling of well-being. There are women in my class in their 70's who have been coming for years and swear by it. (I'm the age of some of their kids and they can STILL kick my butt!)

One thing I have found is most important about exercising is to find something you ENJOY doing. It doesn't matter how much will power you have or how good a program it is, you will have problems sticking with it if it isn't fun for you. If you can accomodate it with your work schedule, try exercising different times during the day and find out what feels best to you. I like to exercise in the morning, before work, to charge myself up, while my husband likes to exercise at the end of the day as a way to unwind and burn off stress.

[Misunderestimator]

4. I once lost a large amount of weight...

about 10 years ago... my lifestyle changed when I switched careers, and over a few years, I was stunned to find out that I had gained 80 pounds. I had developed heel spurs and had horrible sciatic pain and excrutiating back pain. Then, when one of my brothers was diagnosed with diabetes... it hit me that I was at risk for that too since two of my grandparents had had it.

So... I made up my mind to lose the weight, I worked out every day, a lot, changed my diet, and within 8 months I lost 90 pounds. I have hardly any back pain, rare sciatic pain and no pain from my heel spurs now. And I still work out nearly daily... love those endorphins.

That said... I think you look great, Bertha. But if you have health concerns that make you think you should lose weight... I know you can do it. (And I know that you said not to say that... :)) :hug: :pals: :loveya:

[bertha katzenengel]

12. You?!

Wow. :hug: This is big encouragement.

[Patiod]

5. That picture on the left is WAY too cute

Both you and the kitty.

I interview doctors all day, and I hear constantly about "diet & exercise, diet & exercise, diet & exercise, diet & exercise" -- it's the first thing they try with their patients suffering diabetes, high BP, high cholesterol, etc. But of course they tell me patients aren't usually compliant, so then they try drugs. Just think of it this way - diet & exercise are CHEAPER and don't contribute to the bottom line of Big Pharma!

Also - I know you don't need back advice (plus back advice is sometime good, sometimes just the effects of TIME), but pilates (well, Callenetics, which is related) really helped me with my back problems. Also ever since I started going to the gym with my weight-lifting-obsessed SO, no back problems. Haven't lost any weight - just strengthened the stomach muscles, which are very important to back health. Life without backache is much nicer.

Good luck, Bertha. I can't swing the "diet" part myself, but working out and getting in better shape strength-wise have been a treat - enjoy!

[pitohui]

6. diet and exercise don't work

if they did, there would be no fat people, we have the best educated, most informed fat people in the history of the planet

asking someone who already has arthritis to put additional stress on their joints thru exercise is not necessarily always a good thing either

i have no advice to give or i would give it to the person i love, who i worry abt because of his weight issues, but i can see for myself that he is not over-eating so i am left with nothing to say except i do sympathize v. much

by the way, thin people also can have high cholesterol, as i found to my shock, it's genetic and age-related, the contribution of diet to high cholesterol seems to be trivial, a few points at best

some thin people are starting to get diabetes as they age also

i don't know the answers but i share the frustrations

[bertha katzenengel]

8. they do work, pitohui, for many -- just not as a blanket "cure"

:hi:

i have a friend back home, very fit, a little compact English guy whose life is football. his chol. tested at over 400 a few years ago. :yoiks:

[Patiod]

10. Thin people can definitely have high cholesterol but

it's still more closely correlated to overweight.

And some folks who haven't f*cked up their metabolism by years of dieting CAN affect hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, etc. It's very difficult, and just shedding a few pounds doesn't cut it - it requires radical changes in diet, and lots more exercise then most normal people are prepared to do. I know I couldn't hack it. But doctors report to me that they HAVE seen these conditions reversed by radical changes to diet and exercise.

My health has improved A LOT since I started exercising more. No weight change, but less back pain, less depression, and more energy. Not marathons, just some outdoor walking, plus weight-lifting and the elliptical machine (treadmill is tough on the knees and ankles). Folks who struggle to walk can use reclining bikes, or do yoga.

I find diets punishing, but exercise has become a treat.

[bertha katzenengel]

13. "don't contribute to the bottom line of Big Pharma!" if that's not

incentive, I don't know what is.

:hi: Patiod :hug: TY.

[BigMcLargehuge]

7. Hey Bertha

Have you considered joining a local gym and talking with a fitness trainer? They will help tailor a program for you that will not exacerbate the stress on your spine and knees, yet will still help achieve results. Many of the larger gyms also have nutritionists on staff to help design a balanced meal plan that will compliment an exercise routine.

Talking with a trainer has helped me in the past and it might help you.

Dropping weight is REALLY hard, I've been there. Hell, I AM there. So feel free to PM for support, encouragement, etc...

[bertha katzenengel]

11. I am afraid to do this.

Fear is the word. Because of the attitude I've rec'd twice before from "professionals" in the fitness industry who see just a fat woman here to do her ten days before she goes back to the bon bons and cheetos.

I appreciate your thoughts, BigMc, and will lean on you. :hug:

[BigMcLargehuge]

18. lean away

look for a place that has fitness instructors you can enjoy talking to, also look for a place with a pool. There are some gyms that have pool based activities specificially to take stress off of joints and spine. You can also call your local physical therapists and ask them for a referral.

Here's a tip that's helped me as I increased my vegetable intake considerably but couldn't feel full. Drink a tablespoon of olive oil after your meal, or use it liberally as a dressing for vegetables. It will satiate your bodies craving for fatty food and help you feel full.

I am here all the time (except when I am not... LOL). PM me anytime.

[Lars39]

19. BigMc had an excellent recommendation...

a physical therapist consult. A lot of hospitals are now opening up their gyms and pools to the public. The instructors I've come across have been *very* professional. Membership usually gets you a personal trainer, nutritionist and free classes.
I loved the gentle pool exercises. :hi: :hug:

[Debi]

9. My knees, my back, my breathing, my headaches..

All because I weigh more than I did when I was pregnant with my son (who is now 16!).

Just lose the weight and all will be well...:rofl:

TELL ME HOW TO LOSE IT DAMMIT!!!

:hug: to you.

[AlCzervik]

14. Bertha, i've lost almost 60 lbs. now, 6 months ago i never

would have thought i'd be here saying that. I felt like shit all the time, my bloodpressure was up--it had never been before but i'm not getting any younger so i was really beginning on a road to ruining my health. I have a history of diabetes in my family, it killed my grandfather and his father and his brother and i knew i wasn't going to dodge that bullet, i may not still but i think i've put it off for awhile. Take a good long look at what you're eating, you may want to start a food journal for a couple of weeks to keep track of what your real eating habits are. Whatever you do i'll support you, realizing you need to do something really is the first step.

[skygazer]

15. I think there are probably a lot of us in a similar boat

I was stunned to find out how much I weigh at a recent trip to the doctor's office. I'm carrying about 35 extra pounds which may not seem like much to some people but it's still damn hard to shed. Especially because of the other issues that make it tough to exercise. Those issues also make it important to shed the extra weight. ~sigh~

Pilates is good and I'm trying to do some of the exercises regularly but I work all the time and though my job is strenuous, it doesn't give me the workout I need to actually lose the weight. And I'm so pooped when I get home and have so many chores waiting here (like wasting most of the afternoon on DU), it's tough to make the time. I must get into a routine and stick with it!!!

I have arthritis in my lower back - walking helps that, but aggravates the arthritis in my knees! Frustrating. Can't afford a gym and definitely can't afford a personal trainer so I keep plugging along.

:hug: Man, it seemed so easy when I was 15 years old! "Exercise" wasn't exercise, it was just what I did all day running around with my friends. :grr:

[purr]

16. I'm a severe hypochondriac!!! Want to swap stories? :)

But that pic with the kitty is absolutely adorable!!

[bertha katzenengel]

21. and she wasn't even my kitty

i was just a vacation fling to her :snif:

remind me next time you see me, and i'll post a photo of that sweet little kittle making a meal of a praying mantis almost as long as her own body. :yoiks:

[Call Me Wesley]

17. I need to lose some, too ...

However, it's just about 20 lbs or so. I had my optimal weight a couple of years ago, and I guess it's no big deal to go back there. Well, it is, because it all starts within mentality.

I do think we all do know what is bad for us and what is good, but we are easily distracted and caught in a routine we feel quite sheltered within. Stress adds to weight; no matter what. So, perhaps, the first thing to do (and I'll do it myself) is to start with the mental approach. No gym yet, no training - but meditation. Sounds stupid, I know, but it's an approach of another kind. Start to meditate on what you want to achieve and ask yourself the most simplest question how to approach it. Do this often, do this until yourself is starting to convicing you about the best approach and what changes need to be made. It might need some time, but it's worth to not give up - don't consider the passed time as a failure, just tend to be steady until you'll do the right things because you have started to believe in it.

Oh, and since you're a cat person, observe them too. They usually stay fit on their own, and they're napping a lot. Don't get short on sleep, as silly as it might sound. Start with the little things, be aware of them, and overcome them in the end.

And, probably the hardest part but the opening to everything else: Even if you don't take hikes because of the weight; even if you move slowly, do not move like you're overweight. Watch your moves and don't give in. Be very persistant with this since it's crucial. Don't let the weight tell you how to move along.

I'm brabbling, sorry. Start to envision yourself with what you want to achieve (Means: Look at yourself and envision what you want to see and keep this picture alive). Make it real in your mind first and let the body follow. Not otherwise.

[RevCheesehead]

22. I hear ya, Bertha.

I think we're probably about the same size and weight. (I don't have any pictures of me, so I can't post them.)

I not into giving advice, since I'm unable (or is it unwilling?) to follow it myself. But I might make one suggestion: Find one or two things about yourself that you really love, and focus on that. Those two pics suggest love of felines and music. Celebrate that part of your life, and don't let go. If you lose weight, terrific. If not, you're still a wonderful person. :hug:

I'll add that you are one of my Lounge favorites - I look forward to your posts, and am thrilled whenever another kitty pic appears.

[Nikia]

23. I sort of have the opposite problem

And now they are attributing all my problems health problems (fatigue, digestive problems, achiness, ect.) to the eating disorder. I am eating better under the direction of a dietican, but the weight isn't coming back significantly yet.
I don't know what causes some people to eat more and put on weight when they are stressed while others stop eating and lose weight. I don't know why when some people go on low calorie diets, their metabolism adjusts and they won't lose weight even on low calorie diets while other lose weight well on low calorie diets and don't put on weight when they resume a more normal eating schedule.
I think that one of my issues in not putting weight on is that I get fidgetting especially after meals. I am trying to be more conscious so that I don't do it. You might want to take it up though. Movement burns calories.
Good luck to you.

[hyphenate]

25. Been there, done that

Gone through that shit in the past. I remember when my knee first started to really bother me, it was all because of my "weight." One of my office mates, who must have weighed in at 110 soaking wet, also had a similar problem. Two different patients, two different doctors. Her doctor treated her with TLC and got her proper working materials to take care of the situation. I got a "you're overweight" and a dismissal. I never bothered to see that asshole again. Another two years later, and a proper doctor told me about the arthritis in my knee, and gave me exercises, PT and something to help ease the pain.

Over the years, I've taken my own health into my own hands. At times, when I've felt like a hypochondriac, I've evaluated myself. And at those times, I've realized that I'm not. I've just been "persuaded" by some "know-it-all" doctors that I am. Instead, what you need to do is evaluate your doctors--THEY'RE the ones who need to be scrutinized to see if they have a bias against people who are not thin. I found that in some of the residents I've dealt with in the past two years. They think it's caring, but it's not--it's a form of arrogance. It's not ALL doctors, by any means, but there are enough of them out there to give a lot of them a bad name.

Your best bet is to learn all you can about what conditions and ailments you experience. Get info on every aspect of yourself. Gain self-esteem by knowing yourself inside out--literally. It's the way you can control any situation, because you will be informed. And once you are informed--as in politics, as in medicine!--no one can try to convince you that some other element--relevant or not--is the real problem.

[NNadir]

26. Good luck to you Bertha. You're a beautiful woman with a positive outlook

Exercise and counting calories works. You have to be scrupulous with the last part. My advice is to avoid fad diets and develop good habits. I've been there and done that, although I could certainly use some of your commitment now.

Good luck. You can do it. It's tough but it can be done.